The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09

at the White House. carped or censured what
they heard Of but did not see; but the good com
pany of Washington, which is by far the best
company America made the White House its
center while Grant was President and Mrs.
Grant its mistress.
The old army people found themselves with a
comrade; the soldiers of the war and their fami-
lies were always welcome; and when the chill
dren of the President grew up there were young
people and their visitors to make the house CAV.
There was brilliant wedding for '.Nelle
Grant" and the eldest child of Colonel Grant
born in the executive mansion.
For the home life went on under all the press
ure of public business and all the demands of
public ceremony. / passed few DAYS at Long
Branch in 1875 and saw much of my old chief in
his family life. / found it nearly the same as
before he was President. The step, indeed, was
not so great for him as for others; from the posi-
ton of general-in-c chief, at that time the most
important but one in the country, he merely
passed to the Presidents chair / think too,
that as he became used to his station some of the
formalty which at first | thought observed
wore away.
/ recoect dining with him more than once in
Washington about that time (1S75l His table
was always laid so that hale dozen unexpected
guests might be entertained, and Sunday
we lunched informally N the library, one but
he and L. He had just finished writing the letter
in which ne declined a nomination for third
term. The paper had not been read yet to
any of his Cabinet, and Mrs. Grant did not
the letter, and J said 1T was a good one
if be had determined to withdraw from
the contest, but L had supposed be
would not so determine. The letter
was sent that day to the press without Mrs.
Grants knowledge, for the General was sure it
would be disagreeable to her and wished his de-
cisoD to be irrevocable before she learned it.
Years afterward, when told her had heard
that letter before it was sent she reproached me,
more than half in earnest. for not striving harder
to prevent its issue.
1t simple domestic life that went on in
the upper Part of that historic house during those
eight years. The business half of the mansion is
connected closely with the family rooms. The
| Cabinet cham her is next the library, which in
| Grants day not used for official purposes,
but more as family parlor Many informal dis
cussiops of important affairs have occurred in
| that library. and many scenes that would inter-
| est the world and settle vexed points in history,
| if the survivors would tell what they know. The
| few bed -chambers were always occupied now
and then a guest could be invited to sleep, but
| tho demands of the family prevented much
| hospitality of this sort either the General or
| Mrs. Grant would have desired.
| Below, the state apartments we're often used;
| the East Room. of course, on grand occasions,
| and the Red Parlor open of evening to
many personal visitors. All the state dinners
| that custom requires were given. and, some
| times the state dining-room was opened for a
| family party at Christmas or an entertainment
/ to personal friends. while the ordinary dining
| room was hardly ever WltnOuC a guest or I'M
| portance For Grant liked to talk over with a
| Senator, or Cabinet minister. political
| opponent tho affairs in which he was peculiarly
| interested. Cigars always followed dinner. and
! sometimes billiards cards with few in
Inmates Grant spent more than his income
during his first administration, and saved very
little in the last four years, when the salary was
| doubled
Mrs Grant introduced at the receptions the
| custom that still prevails these occasions OF
| in it adj IN tha mia
| tress of the White House; Senators wives and
| the wives and daughters of Cabinet officers OF
personal friends Before her time the Pres
dents wife received without this graceful sur
rounding. Indeed the White House had hardly
been so popular IN long while in the days
when l knew it under the Grant regime. Dur
ing the Mrs. Lincoln saw few but tn.
political adberents of the administration an(
| for various reasons society" it is called
was greatly interrupted. Under Mr.
| Johnson, also. the acerbtles and acrmones o
politics prevented many from visiting the Whit
House, there was. besides at that time, n,
absolute mistress to preside; Mrs. johnson wa
never visible and her daughters were no
women with taste for the duties of their posi-
ton When Mrs. Grant came to her place TIT
| dsSensions of the period were abating: peo
pie of great military and nava and civic emf
nence with their families, crowded around thu
new administration which became the nucleus
of the most distinguished and delightful societ,
that has been seen at the Capital IN at least
quarter of century.
The attractions of such a society have sine
induced many people of wealth TO make Wash
ineton their home, of whom have onI,
wealth to offer a claim to admission there
In the days tell of nobody cared who ric
or who poor. Power so much more i'm
portant than money: great fame, great deeds, S
much more distinguished than fine houses o
fine clothes, that society good" in tn
best sense of the word What did
mere millionaire amount to in compan
that included Sherman or Farragut, or Seward
or Sumner, hief-justice, a general of tn
army Secretary of State, Treasury. Som
of the greatest people had the humblest houses
even diplomatists lived over cooks shops an
gave dinners to the Cabinet on china that the
saw every night in the week at each other
tables Women with names that will never di
wore the plainest gowns, and breeding and wi
and elegance went about on foot to parties thu
we're finer in all the elements OF real societ
that can be seen to-day in Washington or Ne
York. The life at the White House under Gran
had something to do with this.
| ADAM r